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empreinte. 

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d'images  nicessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

itm$  lof  Mf tosW«irife< 


No.    200 


IN  ASSEMBLY,  lAE.  8, 1857. 


'^»»» 


/ 

TESTIMONY ' 

Keported  by  Mr  \yakeman  from  the  committee  on 
commerce  and  navigation  in  relation  to  the  inter- 
national bridge. 

State  of  New- York,  ) 
CityofJBuJalo,        l^^' 

Statement  of  Capt.  Sqaires,  thirty-two  years  engaged  in  navi- 
gating the  lakes,  the  last  three  years  engaged  in  running  from 
Fort  Erie  to  Buffalo  harbor. 

Abiram  H.  Squires  being  duly  sworn  deposes  and  Says  •  I  re- 
side in  that  part  of  the  city  of  Buffalo  formerly  known  as  Black 
Rock.     I  have  boen  acquainted  with  the  navigation  of  the  lakes 
for  thirty-two  years,  during  that  period  I  have  acted  in  the  capa^ 
city  of  sailor,  mate  and  captain  of  sail  and  steam  vessels,  running 
between  Buffalo  and  Chicago  and  the  intermediate  ports  as  well 
as  Niagara  river.    I  have  often  run  down  and  up  tlie  river  with 
steamers,  and  occasionally  with  sail  vessels,  to  Tonawanda  and 
Chippewa.     I  am  now,  and  have  been  for  the  last  thrte  years  en- 
gaged  in  running  a  steam  ferry  boat  from  Waterloo  and  Fort  Erie 
m  Canada  up  the  river  through  the  rapids  to  Buffalo  harbor     I 
consider  that  I  am  well  acquainted  with  the  navigation  of  the  river 
Its  shoals  currents  and  channels;  the  river  is  not  generally  used  as 
a  haibor  of  refuge,  scarcely  ever,  for  the  last  three  years  while  I  have 
been  running  the  ferry  (and  I  have  been  there  constantly^  T  h,w« 
nvl  kuovyn  a  single  vessel  to  run  into  the  river  for  safety,  if  ^ny  had 
come  m  I  should  have  known  it;  there  is  little  safety  in  running 
[Assembly,  No.  200.1  i  ^  yunuing 

1  idi^'l^^- ''•' 


f 


2 

one  hundred  and  se^enty-firorlw^h'"'/''?'"'''  ''"''  "  dra/rf 
-nam  channel,  with  suitablelight,  V^^'^'^ '^^^^  ^^^^e  over  ft« 
would  make  the  navigation  of  the  ,;».?*"''' "  "  ""^  ^^"ion  U 
gerous  than  it  is  now,  and  in  the  dlv  H    *'  "'«'"' """« »<««  da » 
flcen  t  channel  for  all  vessels  topassaTd  7' ,','  ^""^'^  *'<*  «  »uf. 
navigation  of  the  river.    No  vesse,  1?"" """  ''"P'de  the  free 
Without  a  very  strong  northeasi  wind        ""^  ™"  "?  *e  river 

Sub^^ibed  and  sworn  before  .e  ,     ^''''^''  ""■  ''^^^«^«- 
this  4th  day  of  April,  1857,      I 


F.  P.  Stevens,  Mayor  of  Buffalo. 


State  OF  New- York,  ? 
^^ty  of  Buffalo.        )^ss: 

Statement  of  Canf  To^,       *    , 
lake  navigation.    ^    '""*'  ^'"^"«»'''  Afteen  years  engaged  in 

James  Anderson  hpi      ^i 
2'«''ted  the  lakes  fZ  afcaToTo  tffT  ""'.  "^'•-  ^  ^"^o 
diate  ports,  on  sailing  vessels  as  m./.     f  "  "'"'  *«  '"terme- 
teen  years;  I  have  sailed  uD»n7.i     and  master,  for  the  last  fif. 
well  acquainted  with  the  cL,  7°  *'  '''"S^"  ""«:  I  ^ 

-hisdepositionrfUt  ^trkLtf""'  "^ '^P'^'''  ^o^"'^ 
"ver  ,n  stress  of  weather  for  refuL.?  TJ  T''\  """  <'»'^"  'he 
made  by  D.  P.  Dobbins  and  sworf  .'„  <   T  ^T^  "^^  statement 
nexed,  and  fully  concur  w?th  h to "nd  witi".?*^^''"  ""^''^o  «"- 
has  there  expressed  of  the  effecTwWch  I  "P""""'  *"'  ''o 

-.e  river  at  that  point  wo^^ht^^  "^Tl^^^^- 

tills  4th  day  of  April,  1857,      ( 


F.  P.  Stevens,  JJ/ai/oro/fie^^a/o. 


Jj  William  Dirtcnn    «*•  *t- 

and  state  of  New-y:VL:;S;nlTt'  ~""'^  "^  ^™. 

n.ill.ar  with,  and  sailing  uplnfhe  WetV  f  "''  *"'^  y^"^'  &' 

nver,  and  having  ,„„„-°_'^    ,  "*  Western  lakes  and  th^  Vi„l-, 

-  -o  ..«..„y  reaa  a  paper  called  the  "Niagara^aU^ 


* 


/Assembly 

^vith  the  Chan- 
aground  before 
>  the  river. 

een  the  Horse 
dth  a  draw  of 
wide  over  the 
niy  opinion  it 
time  iess  dan- 
i  afford  a  suf- 
»pede  the  free 
up  the  river 

SQUIRES. 


f^Hfaio, 


No.  200.] 


3 


engaged  in 

's :  I  have 
e  interme- 
le  Jast  fif. 
s^ei";  I  am 
1  Dobbins 
down  the 
statement 
lereto  an- 
s  that  he 
a  bridge 
Ration  of 


iffalo, 

5f  Erie, 
3ars,  fa- 

a^alJs, 


Gazette  Extra,"  and  having  given  the  subject  matter  therein  con- 
tained a  careful  examination,  do  make  the  following  statement 
designed  to  answer  the  various  objections  therein  urged  to  bridg- 
ing the  Niagari;  River.  The  opponents  state  that  the  obstruction 
of  the  river  by  piers  would  very  much  accelerate  the  current  and 
seriously  embarrass  the  free  navigation  of  the  river.  The  un- 
dersigned would  state  that  in  his  opinion  the  acceleration  of  the 
current  would  be  but  slight,  as  at  this;  point,  viz  :  near  the  head 
of  Bird  Island  pjer,  the  river  is  nearly  a  mile  in  width,  and  that 
the  displacement  of  water  by  the  piers  would  but  slightly  hasten 
the  velocity  of  the  current  which  at  this  point  is  between  three 
to  four  miles  per  hour,  nor  would  the  introduction  of  piers  se- 
riously obstruct  the  navigation,  as  the  navigable  channel  at  this 
point,  is  not  to  exceed  three  hundred  lectin  width,  with  an  aver- 
age depth  of  about  seventeen  feet,  while  the  balance  of  the  stream 
is  shoal  water,  varying  from  three  to  nine  feet  in  depth.  With 
this  width  of  stream,  it  must  be  evident  to  any  mind,  that  no 
daming  of  the  river  could  occur  from,  the  introduction  of  the 
necessary  piers  for  the  construction  of  the  proposed  bridge. 

Again,  it  is  said,  by  those  opposed,  that  a  sail  vessel  entering 
the  river  with  a  very  light  breeze  dead  aft,  when  reaching  the 
current,  its  velocity  being  greater  than  that  of  the  wind,  she 
will  be  be-calmed  and  broach  to,  and  pass  down  the  river  broad- 
side to  the  stream. 

In  reply  the  undersigned  begs  leave  to  assert  that  a  vessel  in 
passing  down  the  river  gathers  steerage  way  by  her  own  weight 
and  by  means  of  her  rudder  would  have  no  difficulty  in  keeping 
head  to,  and  would  readily  pass  the  draw,  in  the  main  channel, 
as  it  is  apparent  that  the  water  next  the  piers  on  either  side  of 
the  draws  would  be  somewhat  hastened,  while  in  the  middle  of 
the  span  it  would  be  less,  this  would  of  itself  be  a  great  safeguard 
and  render  the  passing  through  the  draw,  a  matter  easily  done. 

It  is  also  asked  what  will  be  the  result  with  a  vessel  sailing  up 
the  stream,  having  passed  the  bridge  some  twenty  or  thirty  rods, 
and  the  wind  at  this  point  lulling,  will  she  drop  astern  and  go 
foul  of  the  bridge  % 

In  answer  the  undersigned  would  state  that  assuming  that  the 
vessel  has  passed  up  the  river  to  the  point  above  referred  to.  she 
has  sailed  up  a  current  of  from  seven  to  eight  miles  an  hour, 
and  would  readily  pass  through  the  draw  and  on  above  it,  where 


4 
the  velocitv  of  th^  [-Assembly 

guard  in  any  emergency.  ^     '  ''"^  *^^«  ^^ouJd  afford  a  safe- 

Jt  is  aJso  iirffed    fTnf 
heav^  sea  .0,1s  in 'severe  ;,es      "^P"^^"  ^'^  of  this  bridge  «   " 

channel  wl.?  '  P'^P"^^^^  site  of  thiAXf   '     ''^'"^°"^"^s 

uiannel  where  vessels  have  Jaid  nf         ^     ^'^^ke,m  the  British 

«he  navigatois  of  our  tn^Zl      ""P'''''^"  "lat  it  is  a    emf 
S?r^  -'"'  ""  -Snr "-'  ">e  other  h^  ," 

^'^ar.erastheo.i,suretvef^r  -'-r  "^ '"« 

cost  so  much  of  both  pub     liZ    ,  °",'  ''"^^^'  «"<'  ''Woh  h^ 
"ftand  will  soonreauire  ^r    K    T^"'^  ""^"Ds  is  fast  fi]]"! 
*;  -r  that  an  arX^l  harl:r;f  •    '*  ^ '^"^yned^^y 
s'onaily,  and  this  is  bevonrf  »  ''""■''  *°  ^  •'"dged  occa 

the'aLtrofttS:  ';rr '^f  '^  "^ ^^  --^s  this  n^er  on 
In  «ply  the  undersigned  woup""'"  ""^  ^"■^''«  '"  the  n^ 

'^ouJ„,«,eti,at  it  is  rarefy  e.er"Thl*; 


f 


[Assembly 

*iree  to  four 
to  proceed  up 
Q  the  speed  of 
fent  and  have 
•od  anchorage 
^ord  a  safe- 

^is  bridge  a   * 

•  reef  there 
iree-fourths 
the  British 
^  weather, 
tish  vessels 
ducti-  prior 
0  be  a  dis- 
f  bridging 
>f  Buifalo 
terror  to 
land  they 
se  of  the 


^erience, 
stripped 
lu  to  at- 


of  suf- 
lich  has 

filling 
cessarj 
i  occa- 
larbor, 
!t  that 
JulTaJo 
le  naa- 


jr,  on 

fight. 

that 


No.  200  ]  i^ 

a  vessel  passes  down  the  river  in  the  night  but  should  this  ever 
be  necessary  from  any  cause,  tlie  lights  to  be  erected  upon  both 
sides  of  the  draw  in  my  opinion  would  be  of  great  service,  and  a 
help  instead  ot  a  detriment,  in  affording  to  the  pilot  or  master  of 
such  vessel  a  suitable  guide  to  enable  him  to  keep  his  vessel  in 
the  channel  of  the  river.  The  undersigned  would  here  state  that 
1  IS  a  very  small  share  of  the  navigators  of  our  lakes  that  are  at 
.  all  iamiliar  with  the  channel  of  this  river. 

The  undersigned  would  state  that  he  has  heard  that  a  project 

F^  nl  r  ''TT""^  '  '^'^  ''""'^  ^"^^^  ^  P^i^t  below  Fort 
Erie  on  the  Canada  shore  to  a  point  still  further  below,  for  the 
douWe  purpose  of  a  water  power  and  of  improving  the  navigation 
of  the  river,  by  ocking  past  the  rapids.  The  undersigned  would 
simply  state  that  it  would  be  a  great  benefit  to  all  vessels  11721 
ing  up  the  river,  thus  being  enabled  to  avoid  the  stiff  ctrenf 

A  1        1   1     J  ,   X  WILLIAM  DICKSON 

Acknowledged  before  me  this  18  th  ?  ^^^i^- 

day  of  February,  1857,  ( 

^^i<>s  T.  UoLuiis,  Commissioner  of  Deeds. 

Statement  of  Capt.  John  N.  Gardner,  seventeen  years  expe 
rience  as  a  navigator,  and  engaged  in  the  commerce  of  the  lakes' 
State  of  New-Yokk,  > 

City  of  Buffalo,       ^^^'^ 

John  N.  Gardner,  being  duly  sworn,  deposes  and  savs  •— I  h.r« 
sailed  upon  the  lakes  for  seventeen  vear.  in  ^^.l         •!  ^^® 

mate  and  captain.  I  have  been S"  ^/jf^Zn faiw"'T' 
running  from  Buffalo  to  Chicago  and   the  in?!,  "P"" '"'J  ™ssel8 

well  as  to  tlie  different  ports  on  lake  onfariln''  T'''  '' 
quently  np  and  down  the  Niagara  river  fnd  h-T"'^"''/''"  ^^- 

with  its  currents,  channels,  si:uZ7::l'''l':Z]^^2: 
years  I  have  been  engaffed  in  thp  m-  ^r,^  •  ,  "^°® 

.he  lakes  and  canals.'an'dlbMh'rst'tr^^verer  "^"'^ 
executive  committee  of  board  of  lake  underwriters  it  °  T  °f 
the  statements  made  and  sworn  to  by  Capt  David  pT^w"^ 
touching  the  effect  upon  the  navigation  of  the  N  '"''""'' 

the  point  indicated  by  him,  and  I  My  concur  wh^^^'^''  "' 
and  opinions  as  therein  set'forth  and  LXIIexed!'        "'"'' 

Subscribed  and  sworn  before  me  this  /°™  ^^  ^^^™^- 
4thday  of  April,  1857,  ( 

^•^'S^^y^^s  Mayor  of  Buffalo. 


_  fAsSEAIBLr 

State  of  New- York,  > 
City  of  Buffalo,      \^^'- 

rents,  ehan^els^,™  \  ,d  rtr  T  LrT'"'.* ''  "'■''  "» <"- 
of  Capt.  D.  P.  Dobbins,  which  he  h«,  !  *"''  *'  ^""^a™'^ 
hereto  annexed  in  reference  to  th„^^  T""  '"  '"  ""^  "ffidavit 

the  Niagara  river  of  bu'^R  a  bl,?f,r:i  "'*  ""'g""""  «f 
line  indicated  by  him,  and  I  f^iv  .f '  ""*  ?''"*^''  ^'""'•^  <>"  the 
has  given  on  that  subjeT  ^        "  '"  ""  ""«  ^'^tement,  he 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me  this  l^^'  ^'  ^'^^^^^^■ 
4th  day  of  April,  1857,  i 

F-  P.  Stevens,  Mayor  cf  Buffalo. 
^^  Affidavit  of  Capt.  P.  P.  Bi„ing,.  .,,„,,  ^,„,  ^  „^^_.^^^^^  ^^ 

State  op  New-Tokk,  ) 
O-'y  0/  Btt^-a^,       j  ss.:  .    . 

havrbrn\'";eSof'tl"!i.ttf  B^H'  f^"^  ""<*  ^^'^-^ 
during  the  seasons  of  navLatlL  f  ^^'°  f" '"'^'"y  J'^^i's  Past ; 

.hat  period,  I  acted  as  m  ZnTcal^f/'^f  ^T'^''  ^^^^  "^ 
upon  the  lakes,  running  between  C^,    '"i  ™''  ''*™  ^^'S"'' 
ntermediate  ports;  durtog  fhlt  perfod  ?L'""'  ^^'""So  and  the 
the  navigation  of  the  Niafara  river  I  L"  «'^"a'''ted  with 
run  down  the  Niagara  river  as  a  ni'J     7    T^^  undertaken  to 
entering  the  harb4  of  Buffak   no 'I'    ..'"f  ^ '°  '^"''""''"^^  to 
(knowing  the  river  as  well  a   i'  do  '  IT  '  t"  *°  "«*»?' "- 
vere  storm.    About  nine  y^rs Mno;  T        "'^''*  ""^  "••■ «  «  ««= ' 
government  with  Capt.  llZlXhl  ""  '"  *'  """P'^y  "^  *he 
river,  for  the  purpos^  of  lot.r.:  the  nr'^'i^  ""^  ^^^  "^"^^ 
and  the  buoys  on  the  American"  M.71  ^^T  "^^  "sht  house 
designating  the  sit,  forlhTSon  L    ""  ''^'"■*''  "'  '^^'l  as 
bor,  which  has  since  been  moved  to  the  T  f  f  ""'^  ^""^  •>"- 
known  a  vessel  in  the  nighTor  in  "t,ts  7tlt    '  ^'^'  "''"' 

-ed  dangerous  to  haul  o'^thtrd  a^fc^  ^^  -" 

From  my  intimate  acanainf«n..  „,ui,  .. .   ,  ^      * 

-  Of  the  rive,  I  would  ^d^i;  ".' tt  Z^^:^  l^rifSi 


[AssiLMBLy 


No.  200.] 


ys  : — I  have 
seJs  for  the 
lave  also  na- 
^ith  its  cur- 
statements 
lis  affidavit 
ivigation  of. 
hore  on  the 
itements  he 

ERELL. 


tvigator  of 


says  :~I 
iars  past ; 

years  of 
n  vessels 

and  the 
ted  with 
taken  to 
rence  to 
iempt  it, 
n  a  se- 
r  of  the 
y  of  the 
it  house 
well  as 
ckhar- 
e  never 
rapt  to 
n  con- 

consi- 
again. 

aviga- 
s  with 


I 


ss.: 


a  fair  wind  and  pleasant  weather,  without  a  fair  wind  it  is  unsafe 
to  enter  the  river  on  account  of  the  rapidity  of  the  current  and 
the  dangerous  reefs  and  rocks.  If  a  bridge  should  be  built  at 
any  point  between  Horse  Shoe  reef  and  Squaw  Island  with  a  sui- 
table draw  of  one  hundred  and  seventy- five  or  two  hundred  feet 
wide  over  the  main  channel,  with  lights  upon  each  end  of  the 
draw  it  would  not  increase  the  dangers  or  impede  the  navigation 
of  the  stream,  or  make  it  less  useful  as  a  place  of  refuge, b'lt  on  the 
contrary  I  believe  it  would  add  to  its  facilities  of  navigation  and 
improve  its  usefulness  as  a  place  of  refuge,  by  guiding  vessels 
through  a  safe  channel. 

r.  p.  BILLINGS. 
Subscribed  and  sworn  before  me  this  > 

4thday  of  April,  1857.  ) 

F.  P.  Stevens,  Mayor  of  Buffalo. 

Capt.  D.  P.  Dobbin's  statement;  twenty  years  engaged  in  navi- 
gation of  the  lakes,  and  now  engaged  in  marine  insurance. 

State  of  New- York, 
City  of  Buffalo, 

David  P.  Dobbins,  being  duly  sworn,  deposes  and  says  :  I  have 
been  acquainted  with  the  navigation  cf  the  lakes  for  the  last 
twenty-five  years,  twenty  of  which  I  acted  in  the  capacities  of  sailor, 
mate  and  commander  of  sail  and  steam  vessels,  and  run  from  Buf- 
falo to  Chicago  and  the  intermediate  ports,as  well  as  to  the  ports  on 
Lake  Ontario.     I  am  well  acquainted  with  the  navigation  of  the 
Niagara  river  from  Lake  Erie  down  ;  I  have  never  while  sailing  a 
vessel,  or  upon  a  sail  vessel  as  seaman  or  mate,  run  down  Niagara 
river  as  a  place  of  safety  in  a  stress  of  weather;  I  never  considered  it 
as  safe  a  place  .or  refuge  in  bad  weather  as  Buffalo  harbor.     If  a 
bridge  was  built  across  from  Bird  island  pier  and  reef  to  Lime  Kiln 
flat,  which  is  in  nearly  a  direct  line  across  the  river  from  that  point 
at  the  head  of  the  rapids,  with  a  draw  of  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  or  two  hundred  feet  wide  over  the  main  channel,  with  suit- 
able lights  at  each  end,  it  would  in  no  possible  way  impede  the 
navigation  of  the  river;  at  that  point  the  channel  is  narrowest 
and  a  vessel  running  up  or  down  would  not  vary  more  than  one 
hundred  feet  from  the  centre  of  that  channel  either  way,  on  ac- 
count of  the  depth  of  the  water,  whether  the  bridge  is  there  or 
not.    The  current  at  this  point  does  not  exceed  three  miles  per 
hour  :  it  is  ahoT'     "■••'-  ^ 


j11 


"apids;  tYicy  commence  immediately 
below  this  point,  and  increase  in  rapidity  until  about  half  a  milg 


8 


[Assembly        S 


a  half  ffliies  below  Bird  islam  pfe/arCI ''  "'"""  '*°  ^-d 
the  placing  of  a  draw  at  the  point  Ldt.'  .       ""^  ''""'*''^"*  "»* 
-jrovfe  the  navigation  of  the  rCr  in  th?:^     """"^  S"'"^  ™- 
dunng  all  xreather.    The  Ikct  tZ  ^         *^  "''  "'sht  time  and 
draw  with  lights,  would  so  p^'pl'''^^^^^  ™  either  side  of  the 
channel  now  existing  at  that  pZfi  T!^  *''*'  "'"''  «°d  only 

«n  up  or  down  the  river  by  day  or  Ih    "'"".'^  '"  °'»™  ««'^  «« 
than  it  now  is.  '    ^  "  ™S'"'  »  fair  or  foul  weather 

For  the  last  tlu'ee  vrar«  t  i,.„    u 

W  o/«.  "<^»^i..  A  and  a.~^^^^^^^  °/  '^'^ 

<icring  m  that  capacity 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me  thi.  )        ^"  ^  ^^^™S. 
4tli  day  of  April,  1357,  j 

i^  P.  STEVE.VS,  Jl/a^^or  of  Buffalo. 
I,  A.  D.  Perkins,  of  the  rkv  r.f  u  «■  i 
of  New-Yort,  do  d^pos   and  Ife  So  °™*^  "'  ^'™'  S'^'« 
have  been  for  tjie  last  seventeeT  ve-l  "^'-^  '""^"^e"'  =    I 

the  western  lakes  and  Niag^TrC  ""T^  ^«.«  »  navigator  of 
«.mmand  of  steamers  Antony  Wa,;      f /^^U^ve  had 
Baltic,  Southern  Michigan  and  Western  M„,"'?'™'^'''  ^'^'"^a, 
and  am  familiar  with  the  I^old  Z'et^^pT  J' '  "''""  ''^^'d 
river,  at  some  point  from  the  dtyoSffl?"^^'''" '''<' Niagara 
From  my  experience  in  navi^^L  m^         '  *°  *^  ''^^da  shore, 
edge  of  the  current  and  SnToftrr''''' '"-""^ '^""al- 
location, fitness  and  capaci^yof  the    I,    '®'"'''  '•'^^'from  the 
facility  and  ease  of  entering  such     !rho         "'  .^"«''"°'  ""d  the 
y  am  fully  satisfied  that  the  saM  bridtr  '"  '"''"  °''"  *  «'"»>; 
posed  with  suitable  di^aws   would    f*  """^""'"ed  as  is  pro- 
obstrnct  the  navigation  ofl^ttXlt  Tr'l  '""^^  '  « 
lights  to  be  placed  upon  both  end,  of       ,.     '  """cr  hand  the 
'n  the  bill,  would  in  my  ^i  ".t  afd  th     T'  "'  '^  ""P^^ed 
himinpilotinghiswaydowntirdii^l,    ,  ^^""""'  ""d  assist 
is  rarely  if  e-,er  the  case,)  be  under  the         """'' '  (^"^""'d  he,  as 

the  river  in  the  night  ,ii:"fratt~l?'™"'^ 
steamboat  to  run  down  this  river  in  fL      ?  ^  °™  "  ''e^sel  or 

maldng  a  harbor.    I  have  heard  of  »      "'^     ^°'  '^''  P"P°»  of 
ranai  *i— ^  ,  ---•-.   .'""eneardol  a  project  to  cn,,cf..,.._     .. 
-I.J   ,t„Ki  a  puinc  just  below  Fort  Fi.i»  „„  \r         "    "  ^^'P 
^rom  deep  water  to  and  past  the  r;Y;i:  TZ^r^^^l 


[Assembly 

^erhour;  from 
'lere  the  cur- 
ibont  two  and 
confident  that 
'  mMy  im- 
?ht  time  and 
sr  side  of  the 
in  and  only 
more  safe  to 
foul  weather 


•eiari/  of  the 
at  capacity. 


^iffalo. 

i^fie,  State 
ement :  \ 
avigator  of 

Jiave  had 

Alabama, 
ave  heard 
le  Niagara 
Ida  shore, 
oy  knowJ- 
from  the 
>  and  the 

a  storm; 
i  is  pro- 
ipede   or 
liand  the 
proposed 
id  assist 
H  he,  as 
3g  down 
essel  or 
'poso  of 

a  ship 
a  shore, 
'  three- 


I 


No.  200.]  0 

fourths  to  one  mile;  which,  when  constructed  will  be  of  great 
service,  and  will  render  what  is  now  a  very  difficult  and  almost 
unavailable  navigation  vastly  improved  by  this  work;  having  as 
I  am  informed  but  a  single  lock  of  about  four  and  a  half  feet  lift. 
This  work  when  done  must  entirely  remove  all  objection  now 
urged  by  the  opponents  of  this  project,  as  the  navigation  in  this 
case  would  not  be  obstructed  but  improved.     Niagara  river  is  not 
in  any  sense,  either  now  or  has  it  within  my  knowledge  ever 
been,  the  harbor  for  the  commerce  of  the  lakes  or  used  at  all  for 
that  purpose  at  the  city  of  Buffalo;  nor  is  it  true  as  is  repre- 
sented by  the  opponents  of  this  project  that  EuHalo  harbor  is  a 
terror  to  the  mariners  upon  the  western  lakes.     Buffalo  harbor  is 
as  accessible,  as  commodious,  as  easy  of  entrance  in  any  and  all 
weather  as  the  majority  of  harbors  on  our  lakes.     Niagara  river 
can  never  be  made  available  as  a  harbor  for  the  commerce  of  the 
city  of  Buffalo  in  my  judgment,  as  the  velocity  of  the  current 
would  entirely  forbid  the  use  of  its  waters  for  such  a  purpose. 
The  navigation  of  the  river,  and  the  commerce  upon  its  waters 
was  not  the  last  season  or  two  of  any  great  amount   or  impor- 
tance, mostly  confined  to  wood  and  rafts  towed  up  and  down  by 
steam  tugs.    Upon  this  whole  subject  I  am  of  the  opinion  that 
this  proposed  bridge  built  with  suitable  draws  would  not  injure 
materially,  or  prejudice  the  interests  of  parties  interested  in  the 
limited   navigation  of  the  river,  and  that  the  commerce  that 
would  cross   this   bridge   when   built  would  vastly  exceed  in 
amount,  that  which  would  pass  along  the  waters  of  the  river 
and  therefore  the  project  should  have  a  favorable  consideration 
at  the  hands  of  the  Legislature. 
Albany,  April  4,  1857. 

c  u      .1   .       .  ^'^'  PERKINS, 

subscribed  and  sworn  to  this  4th  \ 

day  of  April  1857,  before  me,     \ 

S.  Wakeman,  Chairman  of  the  Standing  Committee  on  commerce 
and  Jfavigation. 

State  of  New- York, 
City  of  Buffalo, 

Afladavit  of  Capt.  Wm.  Moore,  for  twenty  years  engaged  as  a 
navigator  of  the  lakes,  and  for  five  years  engaged  as  an  agent  for 
the  business  of  Marine  Insurance. 

William  Moore  being  duly  sworn,  deposes  and  says  :  I  have 
been  acquainted  with  the  navigation  of  the  lakes  for  the  last  twenty 
[Assembly,  No.  200.J  2 


1 


ss: 


I 


^^  [AssEMBLr 

years.     I  first  went  on  Doard  of  a  sailing  vessel  on  Lake  Erie  as 
a  cabin  boy  and  continued  in  that  capacity  and  that  of  a  sailor 
Jor  nine  years.     1  then  became  commander  of  a  sailing  vessel  and 
continued  as  sucli  for  five  years  ;  during  all  of  this  period  was  on 
a  sailing  vessel  running  between  Buflfalo  and  Chicago,  and  inter- 
mediate ports;  about  five  years  since  I  ceased  to  command  a  ves- 
sel ;  since  that  period  I  have  been  and  am  now  engaged  in  Marine 
Insurance  on  the  lakes,  as  the  agent  of  various  Insurance  compa- 
nies ;  I  have  never  known  in  my  experience  and  observations  as 
a  seaman,  the  Niagara  river  to  have  been  used  as  a  harbor  of 
refuge  in  stress  of  weather.     I  have  never  found  any  difficulty  in 
getting  into  Euifalo  harbor  in  all  kinds  of  weather  j  I  have  never 
known  a  vessel  in  severe  weather  to  run  into  the  river  for  shel- 
ter ;  I  understand  the  reasons  to  be,  that  the  navigation  is  danger- 
ous  and  obstructed  with  reefs  and  rocks,  and  it  is  not  safe'to  ven- 
ture down  in  fair  weather  without  a  pilot,  unless  the  captain  is 
himself  a  pilot  ;  I  do  not  think  that  there  is  one  captain  in  Mre« 
hundred  v^ho  would  dare  to  venture  down  the  river  in  bad  weather 
I   a  bridge  was  built  across  the  river  at  any  point  between  Horse 
Shoe  reef  and  the  lower  end  of  Squaw  Island,  with  a  draw  one 
hundred  and  eighty  or  two  hundred  feet  wide  over  the  main  chan- 
nel with  suitable  lights  at  each  end  of  the  draw,  it  would  not  in 
my  opinion  at  all  impede  the  navigation  of  the  river,  nor  endanger 
the  safety  of  vessels  in  any  storms  or  weather  that  I  have  expe- 
rienced ;  with  this  draw  and  suitable  lights,  I  should  consider  it 
more  safe  to  run  down  the  river  in  the  night,  whether  in  a  storm 
or  fair  weather,  than  to  run  down  in  the  condition  the  river  is 
now  in  ;  it  is  not  possible  for  a  sailing  vessel  to  run  up  the  river 
without  the  aid  of  steam,  unless  with  a  fair  wind  blowing  half  a 

f  If-    .,    ,      ^  ,   ,  '     WM.  MOORE. 

subscribed  and  sworn  before  me  ? 
this  4th  day  of  April,  1857,      \ 

x.F.  Stevens,  Mayor  of  Buffalo. 

Henry  P.  Smith  being  sworn  deposes  and  says— that  in  1854 
m  the  latter  part  of  tlie  month  of  April,  there  was  a  large  fleet 
of  vessels  bound  down  from  the  upper  lakes.  Arrived  to  within 
four  or  five  miles  of  Bulfalo  they  approached  a  large  mass  of  ice, 
which  completely  blocked  up  the  passage  to  Buflfalo  harbor,  and 
the  only  space  clear  of  ice  was  along  the  canal  shore.  Some  fif- 
teen or  twenty  of  said  vessels  ventnrpd  dnnm  info  f^^  ir^  t--— -i  ^ 
entrance  to  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara  river.  At  about  the  time  they 
arrived  at  this  point  the  wind  shifted  to  the  south,  and  drove  the 


AssEMBLr 

ke  Erie  as 
)f  a  sailor 
vessel  and 
iod  was  on 
and  inter- 
md  a  ves- 
in  Marine 
;e  compa- 
vations  as 
harbor  of 
fficulty  in 
ave  never 

for  shel- 
s  danger- 
fe  to  ven- 
aptain  is 
1  in  three 

weather. 
3n  Horse 
Jrav/  one 
lin  chan- 
Id  not  in 
endanger 
re  expe- 
Qsider  it 

a  storm 

river  is 
he  river 
ig  half  a 


lo. 


:n  1854, 
rge  fleet 
>  within 
3  of  ice, 
or,  and 
3me  fif- 

Icuf  tiiC 

ne  they 
ove  the 


Ko.  200.|  11 

ice  against  the  vessels,  and  the  vessels  were  driven  upon  the  reefs 
at  the  mouth  of  the  river.  One  large  brig  called  the  "  Chieftain" 
was  carried  by  the  force  of  the  ice  and  current  down  the  river, 
carrying  away  both  the  cables  and  forcing  her  upon  Squaw  Island, 
opposite  Black  Rock  dam,  her  crew  having  no  control  over  her. 
Under  such  circumstances,  I  believe  it  would  have  bef  n  utterly 
impossible  to  have  guided  the  vessel  to  a  draw  in  a  brid'^e,  and 
that  her  escape  from  total  destruction  had  there  been  a  bridge 
across  the  river,  below  this  point,  would  have  been  the  merest 
matter  of  chance.  H.  P.  SMITH. 

Sworn  before  me  this  7th  > 

dayof  April,  1857,       ) 

S.    Wakeaian,  Chairman  of  the  Com.  of  Com.  and  JVavigation. 

Henry  P.  Smith,  being  duly  sworn,  deposes  and  says  :   I  reside 
in   the  village  of  Tonawanda,  and   County  of  Niagara.     Am  a 
lumber  merchant,  and  have  been  engaged  in  the  business  of  towing 
rafts  from  Canada  West,  on  Lake  Erie  and  Lake  Huron,  to  Tona- 
wanda, for  the  last  thirteen   years,  during  which  time  I  have 
owned  three  steamboats  and  one  propeller,  all  of  which  were 
used  for  towing  rafts  from  Lake  Erie  to  Tonawanda.     Have  gen- 
erally had  the  superintendence  of  towing  said  rafts,  composed  of 
logs,  masts,  and  timber,  and  am  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the 
navigation  of  the  Niagara  river.     I  believe  it  to  be  one  of  the 
best  and  safest  harbors  on  the  lakes,  it  being  easy  of  access,  and 
perfectly  safe  to  enter  in  the  severest  gale.     There  has  been,  for 
the  past  ten  years,  a  large  number  of  sail  vessels  and  steamboats 
engaged  in  the  lumber  and  timber  and  stave  trade  between  the 
upper  lakes  and  Tonawanda,  and  I  am  lirmly  of  the  opinion 
that  a  bridge,  constructed  across  the  river  at  any  point  between 
Tonawanda  and  Buffiilo,  would  seriously  injure,  if  not  entirely 
cut  otf  that  branch  of  trade  from  the  Niagara  river.     I  am  also 
well  aware  of  the  fact  that  there  has  been  for  the  past  several 
years,   a  large   commercial  business   carried  on  at  Tonawanda, 
which  is  now  on  the  increase,   and  for  the   accommodation  of 
which  an  extensive  elevator  was  erected  some  eight  years  since 
and  docks  and  warehouses  built  for  the  conveniences  of  trans- 
shipment from  the  river  to  the  Erie  canal.    An  elevator  has  also 
been  erected  during  the  past  year  in  connection  with  one  of  the 
most   extensive  distilleries  in  the  country,  which  is  capable  of 
using  150U  bushels  of  grain  daily.     I  believe  that  a  bridge  across 
the  river  as  contemplated  would  bivo  the  direct  eifeot  to  destroy 
this  rapidly  accumulating  business,  and  prove  highly  detrimental 
to  all  parties  interested  in  the  navigation  of  Niagara  river. 


[Assembly 
The   timber   trade  alone  at  the  port  of  Tonavvanda  will  not 
average  less  than  from  three  to  five  hundred  thousand  do  lar 
per  year,  and  wnh  the  navigation  of  the  river  unobstructed,  there 
can  be  no  douht  of  its  steady  increase.     I  am  well  and  persoT 
ally  acquainted  with  Captain  Orson  Shepard^-have  freq"^^    nl 
employed  him  to  tow  rafts  for  me  from  Lake  Erie  to  Tonawanda 
I  beieve  him  to  be  one  of  the  very  best,  as  he  has  beenTe  of 
most  successful  sailors  on  the  Western  Lakes,  and  I  have  the 
utmost  confidence  in  his  judgment  with  reference  to  all  matters 
Pi3rtaining  to  lake  and  river  navigation. 

In  the  year  1852  I  was  on  the  steamer  Great  Western   bound 
up  the  river  fr.>m  Tonawanda.     At  the  head   of  the  rapids   the 
rudder  chain  parted  and  the  boat  drifted  down  the  current      We 
cast  anchor  as  soon  as  we  deemed  it  safe  so   to  do  on   account  of 
the  rapidity  of  the  current.    Tlie  anchor  dragged  upon  the  rock 
bottom  for  about  one  hundred  rods  when  one  of  the  flukes  caught 
m  a  crevice,  and  such  was  the  pressure  of  the  current,  that  the 
anchor  cable  was  immediately  parted,  leaving  the  boat  at  the  mer- 
cy of  the  stream.     Had  there  been  a  bridge  with  abutments  be- 
low  the  boat,  I  am  sure  no  earthly  power  could  have  saved  the 
boat  Irom  utter  destruction.     I  think  it  practically  impossible  to 

anchor  a  vessel  with  safety  in  the  Niagara  river,   at  or  near  the 
mack  Rock  ranids.  p   p  g^jjj^jr 

Sworn  and  subscribed  before  me,  ? 

this  Gth  day  of  April,  1857,      ] 

S.    Wakeman,  Chairman  of  the  Com.  of  Com.  and  jYavigation. 

John  Simson  being  duly  sworn  deposes  and  says  :     I  am  a  re 
sident  of  Tonawanaa  ;  have  lived  there  for  more  than  forty  years- 
am  well  acquainted  with  the  Niagara   river  from   Tonawanda   to 
Lake  Erie.     Have  been  up  and   down  the  same   many  times      I 
have  known  vessels  to  sail  down  from  Lake  Erie  to  Tonawanda 
and  back  from  Tonawanda  to  the  lake  frequently.    Have  seen  as 
many  as  twenty-five  to  thirty  vessels,  steamers,  and  propeller^ 
dischargmg  and  loading  at  one  time  at  Tonawanda.     Have  known 
as  many  <'is  twenty  vessels  to  arrive  at  Tonawanda  in  one  day     I 
believe  there  is  no  better   harbor  on  the  lake  than   the  harbor  of 
Tonawanda;  and  that  a  bridge  constructed  across  the  river  at  anv 
point  above  Tonawanda  would  liave  the  eifect  to  entirely  cut  off 
the  commerce  at  this  point  and  below.     I  believe  tim  hnei„.o.  .^ 
the  river  is  on  the  increase.    I  am  well  acquainted  with  Cap^tlhi 
Orson  Shepard,  have  known  him  since  1849;  believe  him  to  be  a 


Assembly 

a  will  not 
nd  dollars 
Jted,  there 
id  person- 
frequent  Ij 
^nawanda. 
een  one  of 
[  have  the 
11  matters 


fn   bound 
ipids   the 
ent.     We 
ccount  of 
the  rock 
es  caught 
,  that  the 
the  mer- 
Qents  he- 
aved the 
Dssible  U> 
lear  the 

mrn. 


ngation. 

im  a  re- 
y  years; 
anda  to 
mes.  I 
iwanda, 
■  seen  as 
'pellers, 
5  known 
day.  I 
irbor  of 
c  at  any 
cut  off 
iness  of 


>aptain 
to  be  a 


No.  200.]  13 

most  excellent  mariner,  "and  a  man  of  prudence  and  integrity. 
I  have  the  utmost  confidence  in  any  statemerit  he  may  make. 

JOHN  SIMSON. 
Sworn  before  me  this  7th  day  of  > 
I  April,  1857,  > 

S.  Wakeman,  Chairman  of  the  Com.  of  Com.  and  Jfavigation, 

I       Silas  S.  Packard  being  duly  sworn,  deposes  and  says  :  I  am  a 

-  resident  of  the  city  of  Albany;  by  occupation  superintendent  of 
Bryant  k  Stratton's  mercantile  college.  I  formerly  lived  for  more 
than  three  years  in  the  village  of  Tonawanda,  Erie  county,  New- 
York;  removed  tliere  on  the  first  of  April,  1853,  and  remained 

V  until  the  first  of  August,  1856;  had  charge  for  the  greater  por- 
tion of  that  period,  of  the  books  of  the  Tonawanda  Commercial 
Co.;  also  published  a  weekly  newspaper,  known  as  the  Niagara 
River  Pilot,  in  both  of  which  capacities  it  was  a  part  of  my  duty 

. «  to  take  cognizance  of  the  commercial  business  of  the  village,  and 
its  facilities  as  a  port.  I  believe  it  to  be  an  acknowledged  and 
uncontroverted  fact,  that  there  is  no  harbor  on  the  whole  line  of 
lakes  possessing  more  natural  commercial  advantages  than  the 
harbor  of  Tonawanda;  the  facilities  for  the  transshipment  of  pro- 
perty from  the  river  to  the  Erie  canal,  and  from  the  canal  to  the 
river,  are  of  a  superior  kind.  From  the  mouth  of  the  Tonawanda 
creek  to  the  Buffalo  and  Niagara  Falls  railroad  bridge,  a  fine  har- 
bor is  afforded  for  unloading  timber,  lumber  and  staves,  a  large 
and  increasing  business  in  which  has  been  going  forward  for 
years.  Messrs.  Hosmer  &  Townsend  have  here  a  stave-dressing 
factory,  capable  of  doing  an  immense  business,  which  is  dependent 
upon  the  free  navigation  of  the  Niagara  river.  Here,  also,  during 
the  season;  an  extensive  business  in  rafting  is  done,  there  being 
a  lock  communicating  with  the  Eire  canal.  Below  this  point, 
upon  the  Niagara  river  there  has  JDeen  erected,  during  the  past 
year,  a  most  extensive  distillery  for  the  manufacture  of  high- 
wines,  with  elevator  attached  capable  of  doing  a  large  business, 
all  of  which  is  dependent  upon  the  unobstructed  navigation  of 
the  river.  At  the  mouth  of  the  creek,  also,  a  large  steam  flour- 
ing mill  has  been  erected  within  the  past  two  years,  by  the 
Messrs.  Sweeney,  capable  of  manufacturing  daily  one  hundred 
barrels  of  flour.  This  mill  is  also  to  the  greatest  extent  depen- 
dent jkpon  western  supplies  of  grain,  and  would  be  injuriously 
affected  by  any  obstruction  to  the  navigation  of  the  river. 

Upon  the  Tonawanda  and  Elicott  creeks  in  the  village  of  Tona- 
wanda, there  are  also  four  large  steam  saw-mills,  all  of  which 


14 


depend  for  their  suppli 


[Assembly 


the 


lake,  down  the  Nias^ra";!^"  """'"  '"""'  "  ""'''^  '" 

I  am  well  acquainted  with  Captain  Orson  Shemrrf  »n^  h^v 
him  to  be  not  only  a  sailor  in  the  broades    sense  „f'  ^f  ,''!"'^'' 
but  a  man  of  prudence  and  unimpeachable  integrity    I  h»    T' 
utmost  conhdence  in  his  skill  and  jud^mrnt  as  a  mn'-in  '" 

in  the  truth  and  fairness  of  his  statemenT     S  S  PACkIri,    " 
Sworn  before  me  this  Cth  )  PACKARD, 

day  of  April,  1857,      ( 

S.  W.KEMAN,  CL  of  He  Com.  „„  Co,n.  and  Navigation 
Urial  Driggs  being  duly  sworn,  deposes  and  says  •  I  am  a  r... 

IS  stead  ly  on  the  mcrease;  I  believe  that  a  bridge  constructed 
aero  s  the  nver  at  any  point  between  Tonawanda  and  Lake  Ere 
wotUd  havj  the  elfect  to  cut  off  the  commence  of  tlie  port  ifTfr 
wanda,and  prove  a  vast  detriment  to  her  citi.ensjThave  been 
acqnamted  w,th  Captain  Orson  Sliepard  since  1849/  know  him  to 
be  a  man  of  truth  and  veracity,  and  I  have  the  utmost  confidence 
comTert.'""""'  "^  "^^  """^^  -""  "^^ e  to  laket  rer 
Swcrn  before  me  tliis  7th  )  ^'  ■''^ICt'^S, 

dayof  April,  1857,      { 

S.  Wakeman,  C/mirman  of  Committee. 

Orson  Shepard,  being  duly.sworn,  deposes  and  says  •  I  ,m  n 

resident  of  Wheatfleld,  Niagara  county,  New-York  Thave  Teen 

a  satlor  by  profession  and  occupation  for  thirty  ye'ars,  and  Wo 

followed  my  oalhug  upon  the  western  lakes  and  riv  rs  durZ 

tht  period;  I  have  sailed  as  master  for  twenty-two  years  wth 

out  eneount^rmg  any  serious  misfortune  to  either  life  or  ™v. 

am  well  acquainted  with  all  tlie  harbors  on  the  wS  laZ' 

and  tributary  streams  where  lake  vessels  usually  ti^e    and  a  ' 

free  to  say  there  is  no  harbor  upon  said  lakes  and  streamsllr 

ng  bet  er  security  for  the  safety  of  vessels  and  maZrstldt 

'I.  -..cumotauccs  ihan  mat  oi  the  Niagai-a  river     In  th» 

principal  channel  the  shallowest  wafer  from  Lake  Erk  to  Tof. 

wanda,  Chippewa  or  Schlos^r,  within  three  .^itomebrinkof 


[Assembly   I  ^o.  200.  j 


15 


wed  from  the 

d,  and  believe 
of  that  term, 
^',  I  have  the 
ariner,  as  aJso 
'ACKARD. 


Ration. 

:  I  am  a  resi- 

itate  of  New- 
ars  past;  am 
mda  to  Lake 
t  Tonawanda 
hirty  vessels 
believe  that 
ith  the  lakes 
at  this  port 
constructed 
i  Lake  Erie 
JTt  of  Tona- 
'  have  been 
now  him  to 
:  confidence 
ke  or  river 
3RIGGS. 


ee. 

's :  I  am  a 
have  been 
J  and  have 
3rs  during 
ears  with- 
•  property; 
tern  lakes 
'',  and  am 
tiis«efford- 
ers  under 
f.    In  the 
i  to  Tona- 
e  brink  of 


the  Great  Falls  is  fourteen  feet  in  depth.    The  straight  channel 
at  the  entrance  of  the  river  is  from  half  to  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
in  the  width.     The  principle  channel  on  the  east  of  Strawberry 
Lsland  is  from  five  to  six  hundred  feet  in  width,  which  is  the 
narrowest  point  between  Lake  Erie  and  Tonawanda.     Upon  the 
western  side  of  Grand  Island  the  narrowest  point  in  the  channel 
between  Lake  Erie  and  Chippewa  is  from  six  to  seven  hundred 
feet  in  width;  have  been  acquainted  with  the  navigation  of  the 
Niagara  river  and  have  navigated  the  same  since  1829,  more  or 
less,  but  more  particularly  since  1849.     It  has  'oeen  my  business 
sincl-  the  latter  period  to  tow  vessels  ap  and  down  the  river  to 
and  from  Tonawanda,  Chippewa  and  Schlosser,  and,  during  that 
period,  have  at  different  times  taken    my  small  boat  and  sur- 
veyed the  entire  channel,  its  soundings  and  widths;  have  been 
employed  by  the  U.  S.  government  for  three  different  years  to 
place  the  buoys  in  said  river  according  to  the  law  for  placing  the 
same;  was  engaged  in  1849  and  1850  with  the  steamer  Cleve- 
land by  the  Tanawanda  Commercial  Company,  to  tow  vessels  to 
and  from  Tonawanda  and  Black  Rock,  to  and  from  Lake  Erie; 
have  since  towed  for  same  company  and  others,  with  steamers 
Bunker  Hill  and  Saratoga;  have  known  as  many  as  twenty-one 
sail  vessels,  propellers  and  steamers  arrive  at  Tonawanda  from 
Lake  Erie  in  one  day,  and  have  towed  out  with  those  which 
sailed  out  to  the  lake  twenty-two  in  one  day,  and  as  many  as 
twelve  at  one  tow,  some  of  which  were  the  largest  class  vessels. 
During  the  last  years,  a  number  of  the  largest  class  vessels  and 
propellers  have  made  regular  trips  from  western  lake  ports  to 
Tonawanda. 

I  have  frequently,  during  my  years  of  service  on  the  lakes, 
been  on  steamers  at  the  opening  of  navigation  that  were  com- 
pelled to  go  down  Niagara  river  to  discharge  their  freight  and 
passengers  in  consequence  of  Buffalo  harbor  being  blocked  up 
with  ice  from  one  to  two  weeks  before  vessels  could  get  into  said 
Buffalo  harbor.  I  have  also  towed  vessels  down  the  river  to 
Tonawanda  to  unload,  which  were  bound  to  Buffalo,  and  were 
unable  to  make  that  harbor  in  consequence  of  ice  ;  have  known 
vessels  and  large  steamers  many  times  to  come  down  the  river  in 
stress  of  weather,  rather  than  attempt  to  make  Buffalo  harbor. 
I  consider  the  Niagara  river  in  its  present  conditioujihe  safest  and 
best  harbor  on  the  lakes.  If  a  bridge  should  be  constructed  as 
proposed,  at  any  point  between  the  foot  of  the  lake,  and  the  head 
of  Grand  island,  I  coj  fidently  believe  there  would  be  more  danger 
in  attempting  to  make  the  river  in  a  heavy  gale,  and  pai-ticularly 


[Assembly 
which  a  lai^e  nunto  of  V.    *  \      T^"'"'"^">»<'  "P"" 

feet  in  width.  I  am  coTfllnt  «?f  ;•'  "'"' ^*-'>'««»  fo^'y  and  /!%' 
course  of  the  cuCnt  ttt  'i  h IhT  *«  ^^'"'"'y  ""d  shifting 
construction  of  thHriSe  ir^ou  d^' h*'  ^  T"''"'' '"  "'« 
-vigate  and  tow  a  .ftTA;.'  :^:y  dt;'«  etl^ Tf  ,'*  *" 
also  that  a  similar  difficulty  wonld  hT^  "'^rapids.  I  believe 
the  harbor  of  Niagara  rivlr^fh  be  experienced,  in  making 

be  constructed alplos^d Tt  anvT'  /^  ''''' *»'"<•  "  ''"^s' 
head  of  Squaw  island     fL'T  ,  '*"  "'"  ''"^"  """^  *« 

ered,  making  for  the  mouftrf  Z  ^-^'"''^  ™""  "^  -J'^^o^- 
would  be  upon  the  brTdge  but  a  v^ri' '? '*""«  g-'e  until  it 

elapse;  not^ufficient  af  I  biwrreffeet'Ptr  n"'  *""'  """" 
parations,  and  make  the  draw  In  ,,1  a^  '''"^  P"' 
it  would  be  utterly  imDossible  fn.  ^      dilemma,  I  (hint 

other  nanner  avert  thei™^  i  T''*'  '"  ''"<''""•'  "  «  ""v 
bridge     TmJ  r  ,         ""pending  doom  of  wrecking  upon  the 

the  State  of  New-York  and  of  th.  .„^  ^      "'  '"'"'ested,  of 

a  number  of  vessehbound  fl^^  n  Vf  ?  '^"""■>'-    ^  '""'«  ^nown 
gale,  not  dating  to  t"eirB^ff^'""l'V""  '^°"°  *^  ''^«  '»« 

canal  at  lon.Zl:tZt:^T'n^7.tZl^^^^ 
Sworn  and  subscribed  before  me  /  ^HEPARD. 

thisethdayof  April,  1857,      \ 


S.  Wakeman,  Chairman  of  the  Com.  n/  r.„ 


c«c  JS''avlgation. 


